The Arizona sentinel., 1887-11-05
CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN.
Over Elaboration Suppianted by Comfort
 and Simplicity.

ana Simplicity.
 There has been revolution in pub lie taste in the past dozen years. and evep ultra-fashionable people dress their children in q more sensible man ner and in simpler styles. This change is due to the introduction of English fashions, which are preferred by the best-lrcssed people to the more elaborate French styles. The influ- ence of the esthctic movement on taste in England has gone far toward making the worst-drcssed nation un- der the sun the best dressed nation and the leader of taste. Nothing pret- tier and simpler can be imagined than the little nslhetic English frocks now worn by children. American fannels have attained q perfection of weave that makes them the first choice for little girls dresses. Bright navy-blue and golden-brown hanncls made up in English fashion are simply trimmed with cluster of tucks around the ful!-gathered or kilted skirt, and narrow white ruche at the neck and sleeves of the plain short-waisted round waist make the prettiess school dress for little girl of eight to ten. and the same style may be adopted for older and younger chil- dren. Children's dresses are no longer worn very short. but reach low enough to cover the knee well, while little Cri,.is Of fhr.on ot,I fOr1p ShnnlH wear dresses reaching to their ankles. Black stockings are the invariable choice, and good wooden hose with double knees may be purchased as low as fifty cents pair and upward. ac- cording 10 s.zc. The children of sem sible mothers no longer wear cotton stockings in winter. but knit or woven stockings of wool. A pair of light calt- skin shoes with heavy soles should be chosen for school wear. They are worn by the most fashionable misses. and a more sensible fashion was never introduced. Do not under any compulsion of the salesman allow yourself 10 buy pair of shoes for q child under twelve with heels. We hope the race of old fashioned cob- blers who were formally always found in country towns has not been driven out of occupation by the mass of cheap machinc-made shoes. The shoe the village cobbler makes is made by hand, and if a little care is taken in giving orders as to the shape and style, it will prove better than any shoe at the same price bought from the village merchant. Heavy leggings should be provided f,r girls and little boys, so that the child can go into snow banks and enjoy to the full that exhilaration of spirit that comes with outdoor exercise in the keen wint F air Sensible leggings may be made at home of heavy cloth lined with rub Der cloth. Scraps of the cloth of the child' sovercoat or cloak is the best for this purpose. Most of the pattern- makers furnish q pattern of leggings. A light little hool for girl, of the material If her cloak, bordered with an edge of inexpensive fur. is the best choice for a school hood, while . boy should have warm round cap provided wilhlappets to cover his ears. Little wristleiS knit of wool should be provided for children during the win- ter if their wool nittens do not extend high over the wrists. White aprons which completely cover the dress save flannel dresses from frequent washing. There is no great difficulty in washing good colored flannel dresses if they are simply made. They can be laun- dried in cold water as easily as cotton goods can be washed. but servants can seldom be trusted 10 do this work. It requires the supervision of the mis- tresS. The patterns sent out by pat tern houses are often absurdly claE- crate. They are made up to extract trade, and they do not represent inc best taste of fashionable people. While pattern-makers have done ar inesii- mable good in helping mothers to shape the frocks and clothing of their children. saving hours of worry and vexation, they have done great evil in prolonging in places remote from the great cities the mania for over-ela boratioa in the dress of women and children. Every mother naturally wishes her child to look pretty and neat, and too many mothers lured by fashion plates have spent hours of toil in making elaborate dresses for their children only to find, when the dresses were finished, that they were ugly and unsatisfactory. There is but one remedy. Let mothers take the goods the fashion makers pro- vide. but avoid all elaborate designs designs which are put in merely to fill out the books. Make simple clothing for the children. and enjoy yourself a rest from anxiety about their dress and take the pleasure that comes from q neat, orderly household.-N r Tribune.